Seed-tester.



G. SMIT.

SEED TESTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. m1.

Patented May 13, 1919.

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GEORGE SMIT, or PARKERSBURG, IOWA.

SEED-TESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed March 27, 1917. Serial No. 157,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SMIT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Parkersburg, in the county of Butler and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Testers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in seed testing apparatus, and is particularly adapted for testing corn seed, to determine their vitality and germinative qualities, and to enable the buyer or grower to regulate the quantity of seed planted to insure a maximum production of crop on the land, thereby economizing in time and labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily and simply constructed,inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very eflicient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seed tester;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same, and

Fig. 3 is a detailed longitudinal section showing the heating element associated with the testing apparatus.

In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate like and COI'IBSPOTldiIlg parts throughout the several views. The

numeral 1 designates an earth holding receptacle which is provided with an inclined top 2, being open, and provided with a hingedly connected transparent cover 3 that is connected therewith by hinges 4: disposed on the upper edge of the receptacle 1. The receptacle may be made of any desired material, of any size, the same being preferably formed of sheet metal, and provided with inwardly projecting flanges 5 which are formed with offset portions 6 adjacent their extremities, the said offset portions having a plurality of spaced apertures 7 therein. Secured to the offset portions of the inwardly projecting flanges is a grating 8 that extends over the open top of the receptacle.

The bottom of the receptacle is supported by a plurality of supporting legs 9, that are suspended from the corners, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The receptacle 1 is provided with a substantially U-shaped heating pipe 9 that is disposed longitudinally therein, having one end 10 which is the outlet end projecting through one end wall of said receptacle, while the other end which is the inlet end of said pipe terminates in a recessed portion or casing 12 disposed in said end of the receptacle. A bracket 13 is secured to the bottom of the receptacle adjacent the recess 12, and supports a heating element, preferably a lamp 14 thereon. The upper end of the lamp will project into the recess, and to allow the same to be positioned therein a hinged flap 15 is formed in said end of the receptacle, whereby when the lamp is positioned on the bracket, the same will be safely held in position.

The use and operation of devices of this character is well known, it being only necessary to state that when the heating element is in position, and the seed has been planted, heat will be carried through the supply pipe 9, which will radiate heat therefrom through the earth in said receptacle, so as to cause the sprouting of the seeds that are planted in said earth. The grating over the open top of the receptacle, and perforated ofi'set portions of the flanges allow the heat to circulate freely over the same so as to facilitate a rapid sprouting of the seed. The heating pipe is arranged substantially parallel with the top of the receptacle, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, being disposed a short distance beneath the earth in said receptacle. The transparent cover for the earth holding receptacle when swung to closed position, enables the progress of the sprouts to be noted.

This device forms a very simply constructed, and eflicient seed testing apparatus for determining the vitality and germinative qualities of seed. The device is primarily intended for testing corn seed, but the same may be employed for any other type.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of my new and improved seed testing apparatus, the manner of applying the same to use and the operation thereof will be readily understood, and

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

it will be seen that I have provided a simple'and efiicient means for carrying out the objects of this invention.

Having fully described m invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A seed tester comprising an earth receiv- .ing receptacle of a rectangular configuration, the upper edges of the -end Walls of Which are inclined from the rear Wall to the relatively short front wall, inwardly extending and apertured off-set marginal flanges formed on the upper edges of the Walls of the receptacle, a wire mesh grating secured to the apertured off-set portions of the flanges, a transparent cover hinged to the flange on the rear Wall and removably sup ported by all of these flanges at the inner portions thereof, heat contributing means pass-, ing into the receptacle and arranged parallel" tothe cover andlegs connected to the receptacle and depending therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

GEORGE SMIT.

Washington, D. O. 

